Spy Shots: Jaguar XF-R prototype caught prowling

While we've already seen spy shots of XF-R mules in the wild, these new pics from KGP Photography appear to be the first of an actual Jaguar XF-R prototype. The difference between a mule and a prototype is that a mule normally doesn't wear the near-final form of the production car. A prototype, however, gives us a clear view of what we can expect in showrooms, and this XF-R prototype looks fairly menacing in its all-black paint and chrome trim. Visual cues that this is not a normal XF include quad exhaust pipes out back and cross drilled rotors hidden behind 20-inch wheels. The ride height has also been lowered, presumably on a more sport-tuned suspension. The blacked-out grille up front may or may not make production, but we think it should stay. Inside sources say that behind the grille will be a heavily tuned version of the XF's supercharged 4.2L V8 pumping out around 500 horsepower. That should be enough to at least make the XF-R competitive with its rivals from Mercedes, BMW and Audi. Whether or not this cat has the moves to keep up with its German counterparts in the corners will have to wait until someone with a big mouth actually drives it. We humbly offer our own organic megaphones for the job.

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Anonymous

7 Years Ago

For having to work with what they already have, I'm fine with it so far. Except for those wheels. The XF's wheels are the worst looking wheels on ANY luxury/near luxury/and even most non lux. cars. I reeeeeeealy hope they get wheels like the xkr.

Anonymous

details are different, and the front fascia isn't as deep, the roof is taller, etc. I can understand that.

But the biggest, most obvious change is the headlights.

They went from sinister cat-eyes, which I am sure were intentional, to weird up-turned permanently suprised and scared expression, and bright chrome rather than blacked out trim.

For someone like me who knows what I want, I know I don't want that. It would almost be easier if I hadn't seen the gorgeous concept before this let-down.

Once you know something's potential, it is more of a disappointment when the potential isn't achieved.

Now they have put the same black cat-eyes on the design concept for the XJ replacement, we'll see if that charts the same course.

For the Record, I think the front end of the XK is the let-down of that car, as well. It has nicely tapered fenders that end in a blunt flat nose, and lights that try to be both round and triangular at the same time, not entirely successfully.

The e-type was never so crudely executed, (even the big-grilled later revisions) and is widely considered to be one of the sexiest cars ever mass-produced.

Aston Martin has nailed it's design language much more squarely as of late than Jaguar has, especially considering that they are mostly the same designers.

Anonymous

Anonymous

7 Years Ago

The Type S was old and long in the tooth. It didn't have the lithe look of old Jaguars either. Both the Type S and X Type looked like pretend Jaguars (not low enough in profile(. The XF has real presence and grace. If you hate the headlights, so be it (I like 'em...bold, different), but headlights alone cannot spoil a whole car. This car will sell, but it ain't enough to save Jaguar.

Anonymous

7 Years Ago

Eh, I don't think it's hideous. But to me it just isnt... "Jaguary". It could be anything with another badge. Jags have always had a distinct look about them, with a slender, low profile, which is noticeably missing from this car. It has no cat-ness about it.

Anonymous

7 Years Ago

Ditto. It's too bad one of the most exciting looking concepts in years had to turn into one of the most disappointing looking cars. I smell a large, rotting corpse of a cat in the future, and I think this is one of the final nails in it's coffin.